Hotel Review: Sea Containers, London

The hotel rises from the river on the west side of Blackfriars bridge (the spa and cinema are actually on floors -1 and -2, which are under the water). The views take in St Paul's Cathedral to one side and the London Eye to the other. Blackfriars, Southwark and Waterloo stations are all close by. The Royal Festival Hall and the National Theatre are about a 15-minute walk along the river in one direction, while the Globe, the Golden Hinde and Borough market are a 20-30 minute walk in the other direction.

By car: around 1 hour 45 mins from Oxford, 2 hours from Brighton and 4 hours from Manchester. Private parking costs £50 per day.

By train: there are direct trains to London Waterloo from Salisbury (1 hour 30 mins), Portsmouth (1 hour 30 mins) and Exeter (3 hours 15 mins). The hotel is a five-minute taxi ride from the station. Book trains to London.

Styled like a 1920s cruise liner, with brass and copper fixtures and fittings set off against velvet upholstery in rich colours. The nautical theme is carried throughout the hotel with staff wearing striped T-shirts to check you in, brass porthole mirrors and a copper wall shaped like a ship's hull.

You'll receive enthusiastic, friendly service from staff who seem to love their jobs. Facilities include an intimate Curzon cinema screening the latest releases - you can order from the room-service menu and dine while watching the film. There's also a fitness room and Agua spa that makes its own products inspired by the British hedgerow.

• Restaurant
• Bar
• Terrace
• Gym
• Spa
• Cinema
• Paid parking
• Free Wi-Fi

If the hotel is modelled on a cruise ship, then the rooms resemble cabins. Hot pink and grey are the main colours in the fairly minimalist rooms, but you don't need anything to distract from the fabulous views. Marble bathrooms have rainfall showers, and some have free-standing tubs.

Room types: Standard, Superior, Superior Patio, Riverview Deluxe, Studio, Loft Suite, Riverview Suite, Riverview Balcony Suite, Riverview apartment

Key amenities: ensuite bathroom, coffee-making facilities, TV, free Wi-Fi

From the elaborately curated cocktails in the ground-floor Lyaness bar to the American British food in the Sea Containers restaurant, everything here is done with care and flair. Upstairs in 12th Knot you can kick back on low seating, sink a whiskey or two and watch the twinkling lights of the city below.

The restaurant: bistro dining. Open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Mains from £24.

Lyaness: drinks, cocktails, sharing plates. Open Mon-Weds from 5pm, Thurs-Fri from 3pm, weekends from noon. Small plates from £7.